WBB Notebook: at Northern Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team hits the road for the first time this season as they take on Northern Iowa inside McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 14. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (CT) and the game will stream live on ESPN+.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG 

• Sunday’s contest will be aired live on ESPN+.
• Live stats are available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.

AUDIO COVERAGE

• Rob Brooks and Jamie Cavey Lang will call the action on the Hawkeye Radio Network. A link to the broadcast is available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
• Brooks is in his sixth year as the play-by-play announcer for the Iowa women’s basketball team. He has been Iowa football’s sideline reporter since 2004. He has called seven different Iowa sports on radio or television.
• Lang is in her sixth year as Iowa’s color commentator. She lettered at Iowa from 2002-05. Lang finished her Hawkeye career with 1,265 points and 506 rebounds. She was a two-time All-Big Ten selection.

SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA

• Iowa leads the series against Norther Iowa, 23-3, including 13 of the last 14 meetings. 
• The last time the Hawkeyes took on the Panthers in McLeod center, UNI came out on top, 88-66.
• UNI defeated Saint Louis, 63-54, in their season opener on Tuesday, Nov. 9.
• Four Panthers scored in double figures against the Billikens, including senior guard Karli Rucker (17), junior guard Kam Finley (10), senior forward Bre Gunnels (10) and freshman guard Maya McDermott (10)
• Junior center Cynthia Wolf led with 11 rebounds and Gunnels followed with 10.
• Head coach Tanya Warren is in her 14th season as the head coach of the UNI Panther women’s basketball team. Warren is a three-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and has guided the Panthers to league regular-season titles twice; 2011 and 2016. 

RANKED AMONG THE TOP

• The Associated Press released its women’s basketball preseason poll on Oct. 19, ranking the University of Iowa at No. 9 nationally.
• The No. 9 ranking is Iowa’s highest preseason position in 25 years; the Hawkeyes were ranked No. 6 in the 1996-97 preseason poll.
• Iowa, who last started a season ranked in the AP Poll in 2018-19 (No. 13), finished the 2020-21 season 20-10 overall and advanced to the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes tallied an 11-8 Big Ten record, and return nine letterwinners, including all five starters — Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin, and McKenna Warnock.

FIVE-FOR-FIVE

• Iowa returns all five starters from the 2020-21 season, including Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin, and McKenna Warnock.
• Clark and Czinano led the country in seven statistical categories, including Czinano ranking first in field-goal percentage (66.8) and Clark leading in points per game (26.6) and total assists (214). The tallied the most and second-most made field goals with Clark downing 266 shots taken and Czinano tallying 254.
• Warnock led the Hawkeyes and ranked second in the Big Ten in rebounds, pulling down 232 on the season.
• Martin assisted 120 baskets to rank sixth in the Big Ten and 30th in the nation.
• Marshall tallied 57 steals to rank third in the Big Ten.

2020-21 REPLAY

• Iowa (20-10, 11-8) made its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance under P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Coach Lisa Bluder, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in program history and for the third time under Bluder’s leadership.
• The Hawkeyes finished the season ranked in the top-11 nationally in 11 statistical categories, including first in field goal percentage (51.3) and 3-point percentage (40.8), and ranked second in scoring offense (86.1), third in free-throw percentage (80.0) and fourth in total assists (604).
• Junior Monika Czinano and freshman Caitlin Clark were named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team on March 13. Clark was named Big Ten Freshman of the year and earned unanimous first team All-Big Ten and Big Ten-All-Freshman team honors. Czinano also earned first team All-Big Ten honors.
• Clark’s freshman season was capped off with being named WBCA Co-Freshman of the Year (March 30), The Athletic’s Co-Freshman of the Year (March 25), a Dawn Staley Award Finalists (March 7), to The Athletic All-America Team (March 25), and to the WBCA All-Region Team (March 24). She earned USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week (Jan. 5, Feb. 17, Feb. 23, and March 2), NCAA Starting Five (Dec. 9, Dec. 30, Feb. 17, March 3), and ESPN National Player of the Week (Dec. 14) honors — the first Big Ten freshman to earn the award.

THEY’RE KIND OF A B1G DEAL

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark was named Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by the coaches and earned unanimous Preseason All-Big Ten honors, joining junior Monika Czinano on the Preseason All-Big Ten team, the conference office announced Oct. 26
• During her freshman campaign, Clark averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 30 games, setting the Iowa freshman record with 26.6 points per game recording the fourth-highest single season points per game in Iowa history, and was the 2020-21 NCAA Division I scoring leader. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned unanimous All-Big Ten honors.
• Czinano, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, earns the second preseason honor of her career. The Watertown, Minnesota, native finished last season leading the country in shooting percentage (66.8) and ranked second nationally, shooting 254 of 380 from the field behind Clark.
• As a junior, Czinano averaged 19.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on the season. She scored in double figures during 28 contests, tabbing 11 20-point games — nine against conference opponents.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH, X2

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark and senior Monika Czinano were named to the Preseason Naismith Award, Wade Trophy and John R. Wooden Award watch lists, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and Los Angeles Athletic Club, respectively, announced No. 9.
• The Naismith Award list currently features 50 student-athletes and will be trimmed to 30 in February. Ten different conferences are represented on the prestigious watch list. Clark and Czinano are two of eight Big Ten student-athletes included.
• The Wade Trophy — now in its 45th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001. The list currently includes 30 student-athletes.
• The 2022 John R. Wooden Award Women’s Player of the Year is voted on by nearly 1,000 voters, following the midseason, late season and National Ballot lists before ranking 10 of the final 15 student-athletes prior to the NCAA Tournament. The Wooden Award All-American Team™ will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2022 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s following the NCAA Tournament in April. There are 50 athletes currently are on the list.
• The Big Ten Conference led the Wade Trophy list with 10 honorees, including Clark, Czinano, Indiana’s Grace Berger and Ali Patberg, Maryland’s Diamond Miller and Ashley Owusu, Michigan’s Leigh Brown and Naz Hillmon, Michigan State’s Nia Clouden, and Northwestern’s Veronica Burton. All but Patberg were also named to the Wooden Award Watch List. Berger, Burton, Clark, Czinano, Clouden, Hillmon, Miller, and Owusu were included on the Naismith list.

BEST GUARD IN THE NATION? WE THINK SO

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Oct. 25.
• The list is comprised of 20 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the 23rd annual Nancy Lieberman Award that recognizes the best point guard in women’s basketball. The list is chosen based on their floor leadership, playmaking, and ball-handling skills.
• Clark is joined by four Big Ten student-athletes, including Indiana’s Ali Patberg, Maryland’s Ashley Owusu, Michigan’s Amy Dilk, and Northwestern’s Veronica Burton.
• During her freshman campaign, Clark averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 30 games, setting the Iowa freshman record with 26.6 points per game (men’s or women’s), recording the fourth-highest points per game in single-season in Iowa history (men’s or women’s), and was the 2020-21 NCAA Division I scoring leader (men’s or women’s).
• The West Des Moines, Iowa, native was named co-Freshman of the Year and first team All-America by The Athletic, USBWA, and WBCA after leading the nation in total assists (214), total points (799), points per game (26.6), field goals made (266), 3-pointers made (116), and ranked second in assists per game (7.1) and 3-pointers per game (3.87). In early August, Clark won her third gold medal with USA Basketball and was named the FIBA U19 World Cup Most Valuable Player. The USA Team Captain amassed 100 points, 39 assists, 37 rebounds, seven steals, and six blocks in seven contests.

CENTER OF ATTENTION

• Senior Monika Czinano was one of 20 student-athletes named to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Preseason Watch List — named after the three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year — the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Oct. 29. The annual award, in its fifth year, recognizes the top centers in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
• Czinano finished last season leading the country in shooting percentage (66.8) and ranked second nationally to teammate Caitlin Clark in made baskets, draining 254-of-380 shots from the field.
• The Watertown, Minnesota, native averaged 19.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on the season. She scored in double figures during 28 contests, tabbing 11 20-point games — nine against conference opponents.
• Iowa’s Megan Gustafson became the second recipient of the award in 2019 and the first Hawkeye.

MAKING HISTORY

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark was named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America team on Tuesday.
• Clark is the first Iowa Women’s Basketball player named a preseason AP All-American. She joins Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith, UConn’s Paige Bueckers, Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard and South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston.
• During her freshman campaign, the West Des Moines, Iowa, native averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 30 games. Clark was named co-Freshman of the Year and first team All-America by The Athletic, USBWA, and WBCA, and second-team All-America by Associated Press, leading the nation in total assists (214), total points (799), points per game (26.6), field goals made (266) and 3-pointers made (116), and ranked second in assists per game (7.1) and 3-pointers per game (3.87).

GOLD MEDALIST, X3

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark won her third gold medal with Team USA as they defeated Australia, 70-52, in the FIBA U19 World Cup Final.
• Clark was named the FIBA U19 World Cup Most Valuable Player.
• Clark scored nine points, dished out eight assists, tallied eight rebounds, and recorded a block in the victory over Australia. 
• The USA team captain registered 100 points (14.3 ppg), 39 assists (5.6 apg), 37 rebounds (5.3 rpg), seven steals, and six blocks in seven U19 World Cup Games, helping Team USA win its ninth FIBA Women’s U19 World Cup gold medal.

ROSTER AT A GLANCE

• The Hawkeye roster includes student-athletes from Colorado, Illinois (3), Indiana, Iowa (4), Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
• Iowa consists of thee seniors, three juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen.
• 10-of-13 Hawkeyes measure at six-feet or taller with the tallest standing at 6 ft., 4 in.
• The Hawkeyes returned nine athletes from the 2020-21 Sweet 16 team and added four newcomers, including Iowa State transfer Kylie Feuerbach, who helped the Cyclones advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

RECORD WATCH

• Head coach Lisa Bluder is three wins away from the 800-career win mark.
• Sophomore Caitlin Clark is 156 points away from the 1,000-point milestone. The fastest to 1,000 points in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history is 37 games, the feat has happened three times by LSU’s Maree Jackson, Oregon State’s Carol Menken, and New Orleans’ Sandra Hodge.

TICKETS 

• Season and single-game tickets are available for purchase online at hawkeyesports.com/tickets, in person at the UI Athletics Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, or by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS.

UP NEXT

Iowa hosts Southern University inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 17 in Iowa City, Iowa. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and will stream live on B1G+.

AUDIO COVERAGE

• Rob Brooks and Jamie Cavey Lang will call the action on the Hawkeye Radio Network. A link to the broadcast is available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
• Brooks is in his sixth year as the play-by-play announcer for the Iowa women’s basketball team. He has been Iowa football’s sideline reporter since 2004. He has called seven different Iowa sports on radio or television.
• Lang is in her sixth year as Iowa’s color commentator. She lettered at Iowa from 2002-05. Lang finished her Hawkeye career with 1,265 points and 506 rebounds. She was a two-time All-Big Ten selection.

TICKETS 

• Season and single-game tickets are available for purchase online at hawkeyesports.com/tickets, in person at the UI Athletics Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, or by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS.

SCOUTING TRUMAN STATE

• Truman State has played one exhibition, losing 83-58 to Northern Iowa on Nov. 2.
• The Bulldogs started redshirt- junior forward Ellie Weltha, junior guard Hannah Belanger, redshirt-senior forward Maddie Re, senior guard Katey Klucking, and junior guard Hannah Pinkston
• Weltha tallied 21 points and seven rebounds to lead the Bulldogs.
• Belanger scored 13 points, downing all four of her free-throw attempts, helping Truman State to a 86.7 team free-throw percentage
• Truman State returned three starters from the 2020-21 season, including Belanger, Klucking, and Weltha. All three averaged double figure scoring last season.
• During the 2020-21 season, the Bulldogs (17-5, 15-3)
• Head Coach Theo Dean enters his third season at the helm of the Truman women’s basketball program in the 2021-22 season. Dean has coached 12 All-GLVC performers (four being named to the First Team), two Freshman of the Year selections (Katie Jaseckas in 2018 and Hannah Belanger in 2020), three Players of the Week, and one 1,000 point scorer.

RANKED AMONG THE TOP

• The Associated Press released its women’s basketball preseason poll on Oct. 19, ranking the University of Iowa at No. 9 nationally.
• The No. 9 ranking is Iowa’s highest preseason position in 25 years; the Hawkeyes were ranked No. 6 in the 1996-97 preseason poll.
• Iowa, who last started a season ranked in the AP Poll in 2018-19 (No. 13), finished the 2020-21 season 20-10 overall and advanced to the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes tallied an 11-8 Big Ten record, and return nine letterwinners, including all five starters — Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin, and McKenna Warnock.

FIVE-FOR-FIVE

• Iowa returns all five starters from the 2020-21 season, including Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin, and McKenna Warnock.
• Clark and Czinano led the country in seven statistical categories, including Czinano ranking first in field-goal percentage (66.8) and Clark leading in points per game (26.6) and total assists (214). The tallied the most and second-most made field goals with Clark downing 266 shots taken and Czinano tallying 254.
• Warnock led the Hawkeyes and ranked second in the Big Ten in rebounds, pulling down 232 on the season.
• Martin assisted 120 baskets to rank sixth in the Big Ten and 30th in the nation.
• Marshall tallied 57 steals to rank third in the Big Ten.

2020-21 REPLAY

• Iowa (20-10, 11-8) made its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance under P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Coach Lisa Bluder, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in program history and for the third time under Bluder’s leadership.
• The Hawkeyes finished the season ranked in the top-11 nationally in 11 statistical categories, including first in field goal percentage (51.3) and 3-point percentage (40.8), and ranked second in scoring offense (86.1), third in free-throw percentage (80.0) and fourth in total assists (604).
• Junior Monika Czinano and freshman Caitlin Clark were named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team on March 13. Clark was named Big Ten Freshman of the year and earned unanimous first team All-Big Ten and Big Ten-All-Freshman team honors. Czinano also earned first team All-Big Ten honors.
• Clark’s freshman season was capped off with being named WBCA Co-Freshman of the Year (March 30), The Athletic’s Co-Freshman of the Year (March 25), a Dawn Staley Award Finalists (March 7), to The Athletic All-America Team (March 25), and to the WBCA All-Region Team (March 24). She earned USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week (Jan. 5, Feb. 17, Feb. 23, and March 2), NCAA Starting Five (Dec. 9, Dec. 30, Feb. 17, March 3), and ESPN National Player of the Week (Dec. 14) honors — the first Big Ten freshman to earn the award.

THEY’RE KIND OF A B1G DEAL

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark was named Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by the coaches and earned unanimous Preseason All-Big Ten honors, joining junior Monika Czinano on the Preseason All-Big Ten team, the conference office announced Oct. 26
• During her freshman campaign, Clark averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 30 games, setting the Iowa freshman record with 26.6 points per game recording the fourth-highest single season points per game in Iowa history, and was the 2020-21 NCAA Division I scoring leader. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned unanimous All-Big Ten honors.
• Czinano, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, earns the second preseason honor of her career. The Watertown, Minnesota, native finished last season leading the country in shooting percentage (66.8) and ranked second nationally, shooting 254-of-380 from the field behind Clark.
• As a junior, Czinano averaged 19.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on the season. She scored in double figures during 28 contests, tabbing 11 20-point games — nine against conference opponents.

BEST GUARD IN THE NATION? WE THINK SO

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Oct. 25.
• The list is comprised of 20 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the 23rd annual Nancy Lieberman Award that recognizes the best point guard in women’s basketball. The list is chosen based on their floor leadership, playmaking, and ball-handling skills.
• Clark is joined by four Big Ten student-athletes, including Indiana’s Ali Patberg, Maryland’s Ashley Owusu, Michigan’s Amy Dilk, and Northwestern’s Veronica Burton.
• During her freshman campaign, Clark averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 30 games, setting the Iowa freshman record with 26.6 points per game (men’s or women’s), recording the fourth-highest points per game in single-season in Iowa history (men’s or women’s), and was the 2020-21 NCAA Division I scoring leader (men’s or women’s).
• The West Des Moines, Iowa, native was named co-Freshman of the Year and first team All-America by The Athletic, USBWA, and WBCA after leading the nation in total assists (214), total points (799), points per game (26.6), field goals made (266), 3-pointers made (116), and ranked second in assists per game (7.1) and 3-pointers per game (3.87). In early August, Clark won her third gold medal with USA Basketball and was named the FIBA U19 World Cup Most Valuable Player. The USA Team Captain amassed 100 points, 39 assists, 37 rebounds, seven steals, and six blocks in seven contests.

CENTER OF ATTENTION

• Senior Monika Czinano was one of 20 student-athletes named to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Preseason Watch List — named after the three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year — the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Oct. 29. The annual award, in its fifth year, recognizes the top centers in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
• Czinano finished last season leading the country in shooting percentage (66.8) and ranked second nationally to teammate Caitlin Clark in made baskets, draining 254-of-380 shots from the field.
• The Watertown, Minnesota, native averaged 19.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on the season. She scored in double figures during 28 contests, tabbing 11 20-point games — nine against conference opponents.
• Iowa’s Megan Gustafson became the second recipient of the award in 2019 and the first Hawkeye.

MAKING HISTORY

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark was named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America team on Tuesday.
• Clark is the first Iowa Women’s Basketball player named a preseason AP All-American. She joins Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith, UConn’s Paige Bueckers, Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard and South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston.
• During her freshman campaign, the West Des Moines, Iowa, native averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 30 games. Clark was named co-Freshman of the Year and first team All-America by The Athletic, USBWA, and WBCA, and second-team All-America by Associated Press, leading the nation in total assists (214), total points (799), points per game (26.6), field goals made (266) and 3-pointers made (116), and ranked second in assists per game (7.1) and 3-pointers per game (3.87).

GOLD MEDALIST, X3

• Sophomore Caitlin Clark won her third gold medal with Team USA as they defeated Australia, 70-52, in the FIBA U19 World Cup Final.
• Clark was named the FIBA U19 World Cup Most Valuable Player.
• Clark scored nine points, dished out eight assists, tallied eight rebounds, and recorded a block in the victory over Australia. 
• The USA team captain registered 100 points (14.3 ppg), 39 assists (5.6 apg), 37 rebounds (5.3 rpg), seven steals, and six blocks in seven U19 World Cup Games, helping Team USA win its ninth FIBA Women’s U19 World Cup gold medal.

ROSTER AT A GLANCE

• The Hawkeye roster includes student-athletes from Colorado, Illinois (3), Indiana, Iowa (4), Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
• Iowa consists of thee seniors, three juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen.
• 10-of-13 Hawkeyes measure at six-feet or taller with the tallest standing at 6 ft., 4 in.
• The Hawkeyes returned nine athletes from the 2020-21 Sweet 16 team and added four newcomers, including Iowa State transfer Kylie Feuerbach, who helped the Cyclones advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

RECORD WATCH

• Head coach Lisa Bluder is five wins away from the 800-career win mark.
• Sophomore Caitlin Clark is 201 points away from the 1,000-point milestone. The fastest to 1,000 points in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history is 37 games, the feat has happened three times by LSU’s Maree Jackson, Oregon State’s Carol Menken, and New Orleans’ Sandra Hodge.

UP NEXT

Iowa hosts New Hampshire in its season open inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tues., No. 9 in Iowa City, Iowa. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT.